Worthington Public Library Director Bernice Daniels Throwing Away Cards from Card Catalog

Worthington Public Library Director Bernice Daniels is pictured here pulling cards from a card catalog in order to throw them away. The library was in the process of moving away from the card catalog system of identifying and locating books and materials in its collection, and replacing it with microfilm readers that allowed patrons to search and find materials.

The picture was taken at 752 High Street, which was the location of the library at that time, prior to the opening of the new building at 820 High Street on October 21, 1979.

A January 22, 1979 article in the "Columbus Dispatch" detailed the move from card catalogs to the new electronic system, describing how microfilm readers were installed at the Columbus library and its branches beginning in 1977 to replace an estimated 350 miles of 3 x 5 in. cards. These microfilm indexes helped users find the Dewey Decimal Number for different subjects, and also indicated which libraries in the system held particular titles. A cross-check of the library's computerized circulation system would then indicate whether the title was available or checked out.

Worthington is also mentioned in the 1979 article: "The Columbus microfilm index has prompted Worthington Public Library officials to purchase eight microfilm readers.

"Librarian Bernice Daniels said the library will likely be installing the first of the readers in May and will use the volunteers to help library patrons use them at first."